Official abusing visa seeker: Indian-American community demands toll-free helpline for diaspora


Team Udayavani, Dec 3, 2021, 12:43 PM IST

 

Washington: There is an urgent need to establish a toll-free global helpline for the fast-growing Indian diaspora that now numbers 32 million, an eminent Indian-American community activist said on Thursday in view of an incident of an official abusing a visa seeker at the Indian Consulate in New York.

The short video of the incident has now gone viral and has been seen by several lakh people over various social media platforms. The Indian Consulate in New York has instituted a disciplinary proceeding against the officer.

The woman, who is seen being threatened by the consulate official, and her husband, finally received the visa to travel to India to attend her father’s last rites.

Community activist Prem Bhandari said this is an endemic problem at Indian diplomatic missions across the world.

New York-based Bhandari, who has been taking up cases of Indians living abroad on issues related to visas and passports for years, said officials handling visas and passports at Indian diplomatic missions are not appropriately trained to interact with the people who come to them in distress.

“No doubt, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, things have improved tremendously over the past years. We have a long way to go on how our own people are being treated at Indian diplomatic missions. I receive a number of complaints like this on a daily basis. New York Consulate is not an exception to this,” he said.

“Whatever the reason is, the manner in which the visa officer at Indian Consulate in New York is seen behaving in the video is unpardonable. It is important that the Indian government should take steps to ensure that this is not repeated at any of our diplomatic missions. They are public servants, and this video certainly does not reflect that,” Bhandari said.

“Given the fast-growing needs of Indians living overseas, who now number 32 million, it would be best for the Indian government to establish a global toll-free number, where an Indian diaspora member can call and get help without fear. I am saying this because of the scores of calls, texts and emails that I receive from the diaspora on a weekly basis,” he said.

“Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has done so much for the Indian diaspora, including simplification of visa and passport system and also the OCI cards. We have a lot of expectations from him,” he said, stressing that there is an urgent need to address the issue of how our own government officials treat and handle our own people.

“Under no circumstances, police can be called against our own people,” Bhandari said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Boy chokes to death after eating more than three pooris together

PWD, Google Maps officials booked in Bareilly bridge death case

WhatsApp, Gmail banned from use for transmission of official documents in Jammu and Kashmir

At 13 years, Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes IPL’s youngest-ever player

Wanted to kill Ajmal Kasab who caused so much of pain, recalls 26/11 terror attack victim

Two retired revenue officials among four arrested in land grabbing case in Jammu

Kerala govt to revise manual for junior doctors, house surgeons

Related Articles More

Internal divisions leave open question whether Gandhi’s vision will ever be fully realised in India: Bill Clinton

COP29: India rejects new USD 300 billion climate finance deal

Royal tour of India in offing for King Charles, Queen Camilla: Report

Indian-American leaders applaud PM Modi for inclusive growth in India

COP29: Civil society protests climate finance proposal, calls for ‘no deal’ over ‘bad deal’

MUST WATCH

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar


Latest Additions

Geethartha Chinthane 105: Shoka and Dukha are not same

Boy chokes to death after eating more than three pooris together

Internal divisions leave open question whether Gandhi’s vision will ever be fully realised in India: Bill Clinton

PWD, Google Maps officials booked in Bareilly bridge death case

WhatsApp, Gmail banned from use for transmission of official documents in Jammu and Kashmir

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.